G. Robert Blakey, Principal Writer of the 1970 RICO Act, Dies at 90
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · May 14
G. Robert Blakey, Principal Writer of the 1970 RICO Act, Dies at 90
2 articles · Updated · The New York Times · May 14
G. Robert Blakey died May 1 at his son’s home in Oak Park, Illinois, his family said; he was 90.
Blakey was the principal drafter of the 1970 Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, which let federal prosecutors target criminal enterprises and mob bosses rather than only isolated crimes by lower-level offenders.
His push for stronger anti-mafia tools grew out of early Justice Department work, including a Pennsylvania mob case that convinced him traditional rules left prosecutors outmatched.
Beyond RICO, Blakey moved between government and academia—mostly at Notre Dame—and in the late 1970s served as chief counsel to the House committee that investigated the Kennedy and King assassinations.
The man who wrote the law that crushed the Mafia is gone. Is his famous creation still a force for justice today?
How did a law designed to dismantle the mob become a weapon used in white-collar crime and corporate boardrooms?
The RICO Revolution: G. Robert Blakey’s Enduring Impact on American Criminal Law and Justice
Overview
G. Robert Blakey, who passed away on May 14, 2026, was a pivotal figure in American criminal law. After earning his degrees from the University of Notre Dame, he began his career at the U.S. Department of Justice, where he played a key role in prosecuting organized crime figures under Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy. Blakey’s work shaped the nation’s legal approach to organized crime, most notably through his authorship of the RICO Act. His enduring legacy is marked by his profound influence on criminal law, his commitment to justice, and his impact on generations of legal professionals.